Foreign Ministry has revealed that the Government of Maldives has decided to sever diplomatic relations with Iran.
A statement released by Foreign Ministry said that "Maldives believes that the policies that Iranian Government pursues in the Middle East, and in particular, in the Arabian Gulf region, is detrimental to peace and security in the region, which, in many ways, is also linked to stability, peace and security of the Maldives."
Iran and Maldives established diplomatic ties on June 2, 1975.
The statement went on to add that in the Islamic Summit held last month in Turkey called on Iran to pursue a policy based on the principle of “good neighbourliness, non-interference in their domestic affairs, respect for their independence and territorial sovereignty, [and] resolving differences by peaceful means in accordance with OIC and the UN Charters”.
As such, the Government had called on Iran "to show more commitment and tangible results in implementing the recommendations of the OIC."
While the Maldives had severed ties with Iran, many Arab and Islamic had nations earlier this year had acted similarly.
The decision comes 23 days after Iranian Ambassador Mohammed Zaeri Amirani has presented his credentials as Ambassador to the Maldives. After presenting the credentials the two held discussions on areas in which Maldives could gain assistance from Iran; importing refined oil from Iran being one.
